Disclosed herein is a method and system for online sales providing automatic rebate and coupon redemption corresponding to online purchases. Purchase orders from customers may be fulfilled and the products shipped to customers by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption. The system may provide customers with the ability to make online purchases using applicable coupons and rebates from merchants or manufacturers thereby passing the savings on to the customer. The system may also automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for use during an online purchasing activity for items in a shopping cart during a shopping activity.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of processing a promotion from a first party, the first party having a first system, the method comprising: offering, by a second system of a second party, an item for sale online at a sales price amount, the item for sale having associated with it, by the second system of the second party, a promotion from the first party, the promotion having a promotion amount, wherein the second system is distinct from the first system and the second party is distinct from the first party; receiving, by the second system, an online purchase request from a buyer for the item for sale; responding, by the second system, to the online purchase request by collecting from the buyer a purchase amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the promotion amount; and causing, by the second system, shipment by the second party of the item for sale to the buyer.
A system facilitates online sales by automatically applying promotions. A seller (second party) lists an item for sale online, distinct from the original product provider (first party). The seller's system associates a promotion (e.g., a coupon or rebate) from the first party with the item, reducing its sales price by the promotion amount. When a buyer makes an online purchase request, the seller's system calculates the final price by subtracting the promotion amount from the original sales price. The system then collects this reduced amount from the buyer and arranges for the item to be shipped by the seller.
2. A method of processing a promotion for a first party, the first party having a first system, the method comprising: offering, by a second system of a second party, an item for sale online, wherein the item has been acquired by the second party from the first party, the item for sale having associated with it a promotion from the first party, the promotion having a promotion amount, wherein the second system is distinct from the first system and the second party is distinct from the first party; receiving, by the second system, an online purchase request from a buyer for the item for sale; responding, by the second system, to the online purchase request by collecting from the buyer a purchase amount corresponding to a sales price amount less the promotion amount; and collecting, by the second system, a service fee associated with the online purchase request.
A system handles online sales with automated promotions and service fees. The seller (second party), separate from the item's originator (first party), offers an item acquired from the first party for sale online. The seller's system associates a promotion from the first party (e.g., coupon, rebate) with the item, reducing the sale price by the promotion amount. When a buyer requests the item, the system calculates the price by subtracting the promotion amount from the original sales price. The system then collects this reduced amount from the buyer and also collects a service fee for processing the purchase.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the service fee is collected from the buyer.
Building upon the online sales system with promotions and service fees: the service fee charged in addition to the reduced sales price (original price minus promotion) is collected directly from the buyer. The buyer pays both the reduced price of the item and the service fee.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein a first amount is defined by the sales price less the promotion amount, and the purchase amount collected from the buyer equals the first amount plus the service fee.
In the online sales system where the buyer pays a service fee, the final purchase amount calculation is defined. First, an initial amount is determined by subtracting the promotion amount from the sales price. The buyer's final payment consists of this initial amount plus the service fee, ensuring the seller receives both the discounted product price and compensation for handling the transaction.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the service fee is collected from the first party.
In the online sales system with promotions and service fees, the service fee is collected not from the buyer, but directly from the first party (e.g. the manufacturer or original provider of the item). This means the buyer pays only the discounted price (original price minus promotion amount), and the seller recovers their service fee from the first party for facilitating the sale and applying the promotion.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 13, 2000
September 10, 2013
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